Achan’s Sin
1But the Israelites broke faith regarding what was devoted to destruction. Achan son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of what was devoted, and Yahweh’s anger burned against the Israelites. 2Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, near Beth-aven, east of Bethel, and told them, “Go up and spy out the land.” So the men went up and spied out Ai. 3They returned to Joshua and told him, “Not all the people need to go up. Send about two or three thousand men to attack Ai. Do not wear out the whole army going there, for the people there are few.” 4So about three thousand of the people went up, but they fled before the men of Ai. 5The men of Ai struck down about thirty-six of them, chasing them from the gate as far as the quarries and cutting them down on the descent. The hearts of the people melted and turned to water. 6Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown to the ground before the ark of Yahweh, and lay there until evening, he and the elders of Israel, throwing dust on their heads. 7Joshua said, “Ah, Lord Yahweh, why did you ever bring this people across the Jordan, only to hand us over to the Amorites to destroy us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan! 8Lord, what can I say, now that Israel has turned its back before its enemies? 9The Canaanites and all who live in the land will hear of it, and they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth. What will you do for your great name?” 10Yahweh said to Joshua, “Get up! Why are you lying there facedown? 11Israel has sinned. They have broken my covenant, which I commanded them. They have taken some of what was devoted to destruction. They have stolen, they have lied, and they have put it among their own belongings. 12That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies — they turn their backs before them, because they have become devoted to destruction themselves. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy from among you what is devoted to destruction. 13Get up, consecrate the people. Tell them: Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, for this is what Yahweh, the God of Israel, says: There is something devoted to destruction among you, Israel. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove it from among you. 14In the morning you are to present yourselves tribe by tribe. The tribe that Yahweh selects will come forward clan by clan. The clan that Yahweh selects will come forward family by family. The family that Yahweh selects will come forward man by man. 15Whoever is caught with what is devoted to destruction will be burned with fire, along with everything he has, because he has broken the covenant of Yahweh and has done a disgraceful thing in Israel.”
Achan Exposed and Judged
16Joshua rose early the next morning and brought Israel forward tribe by tribe, and the tribe of Judah was selected. 17He brought forward the clans of Judah, and the clan of the Zerahites was selected. He brought forward the clan of the Zerahites family by family, and Zabdi was selected. 18He brought forward his family man by man, and Achan son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was selected. 19Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to Yahweh, the God of Israel, and give him praise. Tell me now what you have done — do not hide it from me.” 20Achan answered Joshua, “It is true. I have sinned against Yahweh, the God of Israel. This is what I did: 21among the plunder I saw a fine cloak from Shinar, two hundred shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels. I wanted them, and I took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath.” 22So Joshua sent messengers, who ran to the tent, and there it was, hidden in his tent, with the silver underneath. 23They took the things from the tent, brought them to Joshua and all the Israelites, and laid them out before Yahweh. 24Then Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan son of Zerah, along with the silver, the cloak, the bar of gold, his sons and daughters, his ox, his donkey, his sheep, his tent, and everything he had, and they brought them up to the Valley of Achor. 25Joshua said, “Why have you brought this trouble on us? Yahweh will bring trouble on you today.” Then all Israel stoned him, and after they had stoned the rest, they burned them with fire. 26They raised over him a great heap of stones, which remains to this day. Then Yahweh turned from his burning anger. That is why that place is called the Valley of Achor to this day.
